MANILA – As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines is committed to guiding the regional bloc toward becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized this goal during a dialogue hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York City on March 5. She also shared the key priorities of ASEAN for 2026.
“The Philippine Chairship in 2026 has launched an ambitious agenda to ensure that our region of 684 million people across 11 countries stays on course to rank among the world’s top economies,” Lazaro said.
She highlighted three main pillars of the chairship: advancing peace and security, strengthening economic cooperation and resilience, and fostering a people-centered ASEAN community. “We aim to build an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable economic region while investing in resilience against current and emerging threats,” Lazaro added.
The ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan, effective this year, aims to create a single market and deepen collaboration in areas like digital transformation, innovation, MSMEs, intellectual property, energy, transport, minerals, tourism, and consumer protection. The plan also emphasizes resilient supply chains, energy and food security, sound economic policies, and workforce adaptability.
Lazaro noted that global developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Myanmar coup, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, renewed Middle East conflicts, trade disruptions, and climate disasters have brought unprecedented challenges. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence are also reshaping economies and security landscapes.
“In a time of global upheaval, uncertainty, and unpredictability, ASEAN will serve as a platform for dialogue, regional integration, and multilateral cooperation,” she said. “Our commitment is to peaceful engagement, grounded in international law, despite increasing unilateral actions worldwide.”
elamigo/
